The Drive-By Truckers are on autopilot. Or, I guess, cruise control. Regardless, every year, you know what to expect from the Athens band: Kickass live shows, new record not quite as good as their older ones, and more kickass live shows. While DBT aren’t resting in their Wranglers, ever since the departure of Jason Isbell last year, the band seems a little off. At least they seem that way on their latest, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark, but onstage the band is untouchable, one of the best guitar-based acts around.

While it’s not a new song, I’ve been obsessed with “Lookout Mountain” (from ‘04’s The Dirty South) for such a long time, I feel that it should be posted.

The protagonist of the song is about to hurl himself off Lookout Mountain—it’s a real place—but before he crosses over to the other side, he is racked with confusion, guilt, and a whole lot of questions.

Who will end up with my records?
Who will end up with my tapes?
Who will pay my credit card bills?
Who’s gonna pay for my mistakes?

All good points, but the song’s most enduring line come later:

If I throw myself off Lookout Mountain who will ever hear my songs?

I don’t know why that single line effects me the way it does, but every time I hear it, I can’t help but think about someone on the cusp of death, wondering if their art will ever be noticed, or even heard, when they are gone.

MP3:
Drive-By Truckers - Lookout Mountain